The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-01-29
WHY SOME MINISTER'S MOVE.

An esteemed and loyal pastor writes
on this question and submits remarks
which are worthy of attention. He is
settled over congenial parish where
he is doing good work, but he feels
that injustice is sometimes done in the
reflections on pastors occupying mission
fields, who are obliged to move more
frequently than others, and who thus
incur the reputation of perambulating
pastors" rotating brothers," as they
are sometimes called. We print the
communication, emitting some things
which might reveal the personality of
the writer.
THERE is an unmistakable feeling in the
minds of some good brethren, that, because
minister does not remain a long series of years
in one parish. as do some he is not good and
successful worker. Hence, he would hardly
be welcome in some States where they claim
to want more ministers badly. 1t should be
remembered that in such States there are
usually, goodly number of dormant and
semi-dormant parishes; dilapidated churches;
| churches in debt, and parishes with no
church.
81 have in my mind State, not far from ILL
nois, where the following facts are substan-
TALLY correct: There are twenty nine parishes
and only nine ministers. with seventeen par
ishes without preachers, according to the
Register and late papers, These dormant
parishes and parishes at present without
OrpaoharS IN Ia. Qao;c
ter figures, $3.50 of church property
Whose fault is it that ministers have moved
from all of these? Is it the fault of the min
listers, or is it not the lax condition of the par
ishes at least half the time?
There is a good brother now in my mind,
who is under the ban of some of his brethren
because he has moved so much His case
will answer as illustration. If / have the
right understanding of the matter this broth
er has had ten regular parishes Seven of
these were dormant when he took them, ex-
cept three which were in the State Superin-
tendent's hands, temporarily One had been
pastorless ten years, except a few months;
one four years; one three years; two never
had regular pastor before. To-day his work
shows that seven of the ten are in good, live.
working order, with pastors, and but three of
RAO WhOlS dI6 uOW ana no parish
has ever run in debt under his pastorate.
Other good brethren, whom the writer
knows well, have been through similar ex-
periences; have done royal and loyal work,
ana are able men. The fact is, many parishes
areunstable. They revive. run awhile, get tired
of going to church; won't pay living salary,
and so freeze the minister out. In few years
1t is said that deaths and removals have re-
duced our numbers so that we cannot support
preaching Should these things be laid at
the door of the preacher? Then there are
parishes that seem to want $1,000 minister
for from $500 to $500 year, and think they
must have the best or it is no use to try.
Other parishes build too costly churches,
under highly stimulating circumstances, and
shortly afterward feel poor, especially if the
editice is not fully paid for. and think they
had better suspend for awhile and then try it
again; get tired, feel poor again, and stop for
awhile OF course the parishes are not to
blame in all cases; ministers are at fault a
part of the time. 1t is the right man in the
wrong place. sometimes. and like causes for
divorce, fncompatibility,' while again neither
party Is really TO blame.
Brethren, do not be too severe on hard
working, loyal ministers, who mOue, for some-
times they do more good work than those who
stay too long Some of these moving ones
are enthusiastic, true men, who have taken
mission points most of the time, and brought
them into good working order, and then
moved to anothersuch point and did the same
thing. Putting the foot of fault finding too
severely and unjustly upon working ministers
sometimes stamps them out of the pulpit into
secular business"
There are some good points made in
the above communication which it will
serve all interests to note. We now
only mention two, as follows;
l. 1t is worthy of remark that the
writer is specific on the point that an
''unmistakable feeling" exists to the
disadvantage of ministers, who, justly
or unjustly, get the reputation of in
stability in the pastoral relation. This
feeling not only exists, but is increas-
ing year by year. Churches are now
beginning to appreciate the staying"
qualities Of minister, and are grow
ing more and more suspicious of the
minister who makes frequent changes.
On the other hand, a minister rises in
reputation when his pastorate extends
over series of years. 1t is no unusual
thing to hear the question in regard to
a minister who makes himself known
as a candidate for settlement, "How
long has he served his present par
ish?" and it is almost invariably